Closure for cans or like receptacles.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

G. A. CHENEY.

CLOSURE FOR GANS 0R LIKE REGEPTAGLBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLOSURE FOR CANS OR LIKE RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,592, dated August 2, 1904. Application filed March 16, 1904. Serial No. 198,461. (No model.)

To a wit/mt it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. CHENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and use- :ful Improvements in Closures for Cans or Like Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for cans or like receptacles; and it has for its object to provide a closure which in addition to closing the vessel may be utilized to remove the contents from the vessel.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described, and the particular features of novelty pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a can embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing the closure in place upon the can. Fig. 3 is a view showing the closure removed with handle bent up in place. Fig. 4 shows a blank from which the closure may be formed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the closure.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates a can or receptacle of any material and shape, in the present instance being rectangular in cross-section with rounded corners. In the preferred embodiment the receptacle is made solidthat is, without the usual removable cover-and in one of the ends, as B, an opening?) is cut. This opening may be of any desired shape and located anywhere in the end of the can; but in the present instance the opening is made in one of the corners and is sector shape. The can or receptacle is filled through this opening when, as shown, the box is made without the removable cover.

For removing the contents from the can or receptacle the device shown in Figs. 3 and 5 is employed, with which is also combined means for closing the opening in the can. Referring particularly to said Figs. 3 and 5, this device, it will be seen, resembles an ordinary scoop, having the body or bowl portion C and handle D. This scoop may be struck up from a single piece of sheet metal, a blank being shown in Fig. 5. Carried by the back portion of the scoop is a stopper or filling-piece E of some yielding material, as cork, shaped to fit within the opening in the can. It may be secured to the scoopback in any desired or preferred manner, but in the present instance this is accomplished by striking up a spud or point of metal F from the back of the scoop, which is forced into the stopper E and clenched.

WVhen the stopper or closure is inserted in the opening in the can, the bowl C extends down into the interior of the can. To prevent the scoop from falling through the opening into the can, the back of the scoop is made larger than the opening in the receptacle and extends beyond the edge of the opening, as will be readily understood.

\Vhen the cans are placed on the market, the opening will be closed, as above described, and that portion of the scoop which will subsequently constitute the handle D will lie flat on top of the can end and be held down by a drop of solder or otherwise, all as shown in Fig. 2. If, as shown, the sides of the can extend beyond the ends thereof, a filling-piece, as H, of paper, board, or other suitable material, may be employed, which will aid in keeping the can air-tight.

hen it is desired to open the can, all that is necessary is to separate the handle portion D from the can, which may be done by inserting a knife-blade or other instrument below said handle portion D and prying upward, thus breaking the solder. WV hen the can has been opened, the handle portion is bent to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so that it may be more readily grasped. The contents of the can may be removed by using the scoop, as will be readily understood.

WVhile the can has been described and shown as without a removable cover, still this is not essential and the invention is equally well adapted for use in connection with cans hav ing removable covers. So, too, the scoop need not be made from one piece of metal.

With a device such as described the can may be securely closed and at the same time there is always at hand ready for use an implement With which the contents may be removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The combination with a receptacle having an opening in one of its Walls, of a closure therefor having a scoop-like body extending into the receptacle, and a portion, constituting a handle, adapted to be turned down upon the body of the receptacle and removably secured thereto, whereby the closure will be held in place; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an opening in one end, of a closure therefor formed from a single piece of sheet metal and having a scoop-like body portion, extending into the receptacle, a filling-piece adapted' the spud or point for holding the filling in place and the handle portion; substantially as described.

' 4:. The combination with a receptacle having an opening in one end of a closure therefor having a scoop-like body adapted to extend into the receptacle, a filling-piece carried by the back portion of the scoop and fittingthe opening in the receptacle, and the handle for the scoop; substantially as described.

CHARLES A. CHENEY. Witnesses:

(J. F. HOPKINS, J. LERCH. 

